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Monday, January 9, 2012

"We do what we can"? My eye.

After four Portland shootings in an hour and a half in the afternoon, -- yesterday ended with the midnight shooting of a moving car in NoPo. In any decently run city, this would prompt a meaningful response, but in Portlandia, the weird mayor gets on TV and makes his usual speech about how it's all because gun control laws are too loose. Last night he told one reporter, "We do what we can at the city level," but the state and federal governments are at fault for not passing more laws regulating guns.

Like most statements emanating from that fellow's mouth, the proposition that the city "does what it can" to stop gang violence is patently absurd. The city is not devoting anywhere near the resources it should to that task. That's because it's spending most of its money on worthless junk. Police precincts have been closed, and gang response funding has been cut, but we buy all the shiny toys the real estate sharpies want. Meanwhile, the City Council wastes its time passing lovely-sounding, but ultimately meaningless, resolutions about all sorts of issues far outside its jurisdiction and expertise (if any). This week they're going to bloviate about, among other things, troop levels in Afghanistan.

They must think the electorate in this town is stupid. Maybe they're right.

Jack isn't it alrdy illegal t o possess a firearm if you're a fellon ? Even if not an ex con isn't it illegal to walk around with a loaded gun unless you have a permit? I'm pretty sure any of these existing laws could be applied in these shootings. Why not start enforcing what's already on the books?

To keep after gangsters we need more support than just adding a few cops for more arrests. We need solid prosecution efforts, utilization of empty jail space to keep offenders, and intense supervision of paroled gang members ( the last thing gangsters want ). Sadly, there also needs to be realization that for gang members, 18 yrs of age or older, there is litlle hope of saving them from a life of crime. Spend any precious prevention dollars on the wee ones.

Careful, guys. The more you point out how ineffective the police are at shootouts, the more likely they're going to make up some big event where they can pretend to be doing something. You know, it's been nearly fifteen years since that alleged incident with the caiman in the Willamette, and a month of dedicated searching never did find the beast, so don't be surprised if suddenly it needs to be found again.

It is the pseudo civil libertarians as Fish, Fritz and Adams that keep this gang stuff going here. If the police were allowed to engage in aggressive enforcement (I don’t mean the kind of enforcement the bad apples do, violence in not necessary) which includes profiling. If done correctly the gang bangers presence would soon be diminished. Come on, the cops see gangsters engaging in nefarious activities and are ham stringed from doing anything because the commissioners are more worried about the gangstas supposed civil rights.

There isn't going to be any gang crackdown unless the outlaws aren't recycling their food waste. And the city would likely grant the gangstas a hardship exemption from that.

Otherwise, we can look forward to lots of really serious discussions about forming special commissions to identify potential problems, recommend expensive, convoluted programs to "solve" the problems and write interminable reports to gather dust on high shelves in forgotten archives.

Don't forget about the new Office of Equity when talking about "out-to-lunch" Portland city governance. Or, the proposed high cost (financial) (un)Sustainability Center for government types to crow about.

In stump town, the winning political formulae is this: (1) treat grown-ups like juveniles (they are not to be trusted with a simple plastic bag; and their time is of so little value, making them spend an extra hour per week or so toiling to separate out food scraps is considered irrelevant). And (2) treat juveniles as grown ups (we grown-ups should be required to listen and learn from Skate-boarder-dude-with-tatoo-and-ear-piercings-down-at-Occupy-Portland).

Portland cityhall breaks apart neighborhoods with light rail (CriMet & Rockwood, e.g) causing gentrification and densifying displaced poor folk into public housing. Then they open an Office of Equity, and some how we are suppose to believe this makes up for other city hall policy. It should be more appropriately called the "spin-the-story" Office of Equity.

Another laughable item coming out of city hall is the ten year plan to end homelessness. I think San Francisco long ago discovered it's impossible to end homelessness at the city government level, because there is a nearly infinite supply of homeless that will come for the free shelter, food, and health.

It should be no wonder why you've got Clackamas County trending towards a right wing led rebellion. They see Portland over there, and are saying, "please leave us alone with your make-believe policies."

I wish I could say stumptown city hall will change for the better with this year's city council elections; but judging from the slate of candidates running and ready-made-last-minute-votes of pro-government forces at Portland State University, and I would say, city hall will not change anytime soon.

If you are a grown-up, you really should have a portland city exit strategy.

Yeah, because additional gun control did wonders for Chicago and Washington DC before it was struck down by the Supreme Court.

I'm pretty sure that if someone wants to take a shot at someone else, the weapons charge is the least of their concern against armed robbery, aggravated assault, attempted murder, or straight up murder.

Oh yeah, that additional Class C Felony is going to get their attention!

The use of the word bloviate demonstrates a level of rhetorical expertise not often found outside the beltway! While I must concur that that the Supreme Court erred in its determination that corporations are due the same free speech rights as individuals, I take umbrage with the hyperbolic posturing of the Portland City Council. They waste their time and our money pontificating on issues demonstrably outside their puvey.

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 156
At this date last year: 225
Total run in 2014: 401
In 2013: 257
In 2012: 129
In 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269